2008 Suzuki B-King, 6k miles.
Only had time to put around 500 miles on it since I got it in November.
Most every mile was cold weather commuting.
I do not know the bike's history, otherwise it looks and did run excellent.
I have not once popped, slipped, or abused the clutch.
Other than the throttle being pinned, I've been easy on the bike. I ride easy on cold roads.
The clutch worked perfectly. I started riding it to work a few miles lately(no time to really ride).
Suddenly the clutch slipped a couple times. Easing up through the rpm's, and once the bike started making power past 6k or so, it started to slip.
The next day I went out for a cruise to see if it would do it again...I didn't think I was going to make it home.
I thought it was kind of strange for the clutch to have worked so well, then just suddenly die, but it happens.
Not having the cash to buy a new clutch at the moment I left it alone.
Rather than remove the clutch I decided to remove the pushrod and make sure it wasn't gummed up and sticking.
It had some crud from the chain on it, but not what I'de think would cause it to stick and/or drag.
While it was apart the cylinder popped out of the housing on the sprocket cover.
No big deal, I just had to bleed the clutch now. Problem is, it will not bleed! No lever pressure, at all.
I removed the cylinder again, and filled the housing over half full.
I then put it back on, using the 2 bolts to slowly draw it on. Instant lever pressure! But off course there will be air.
I then hold the lever, crack the bleeder, and as expected, a big air pocket in the bleeder hose I have on it. Great! But now again, no lever pressure, at all. I repeatedly pump the lever, crack the bleeder, and nothing. It will not build pressure.
I then pump the lever and clamp it to the bar. I put a syringe on the end of the bleeder hose and open the bleeder, then use the syringe to pull air and fluid.
This is working great, or so I though. As plenty of air and fluid came out, only the level in the master cylinder never dropped, at all. This is after multiple attempts too, over a dozen.
Enough fluid came out to easily have filled the line, and the cylinder was already full or close to it.
I assume it's pulling air from around the threads of the bleeder.
Every part of the master cylinder, line, and lower cylinder is bone dry. The seal on the piston does not leak.
Every part appears as brand new, even the threads on the bleeder and cylinder.
The strange part is that the clutch worked fine, aside from slipping. The lever had plenty of pressure and would spring back instantly. There were no engagement issues. You could pull the lever and easily engage first gear, there were also no shifting problems at all. None. Not even when limping home.
I have bled many clutches and countless brakes over the years, and I understand that some can be a pain, but I have never seen this before.
The master cylinder was working fine, and as said, when you fill the pushrod cylinder the first time there is plenty of lever pressure...until you bleed it once.
Without ANY leaks, or traces of brake fluid I cannot understand why it will not work, as it's a simple system.
The fluid in the master cylinder not going down has me wondering, but for it to suddenly go bad while it's apart seems unlikely to me(although it's possible).
I have yet to remove the clutch to inspect it, but at this point that's irrelavent. If the clutch is new or fried , it doesn't matter if it can't be engaged.
It's been a busy past week or so for me and my mind has been elsewhere. So I'm taking a step back and trying to find the simple problem staring me in the face.
Someone's about to buy a B-King really cheap, seriously.
I'm out of ideas at the moment.
Only had time to put around 500 miles on it since I got it in November.
Most every mile was cold weather commuting.
I do not know the bike's history, otherwise it looks and did run excellent.
I have not once popped, slipped, or abused the clutch.
Other than the throttle being pinned, I've been easy on the bike. I ride easy on cold roads.
The clutch worked perfectly. I started riding it to work a few miles lately(no time to really ride).
Suddenly the clutch slipped a couple times. Easing up through the rpm's, and once the bike started making power past 6k or so, it started to slip.
The next day I went out for a cruise to see if it would do it again...I didn't think I was going to make it home.
I thought it was kind of strange for the clutch to have worked so well, then just suddenly die, but it happens.
Not having the cash to buy a new clutch at the moment I left it alone.
Rather than remove the clutch I decided to remove the pushrod and make sure it wasn't gummed up and sticking.
It had some crud from the chain on it, but not what I'de think would cause it to stick and/or drag.
While it was apart the cylinder popped out of the housing on the sprocket cover.
No big deal, I just had to bleed the clutch now. Problem is, it will not bleed! No lever pressure, at all.
I removed the cylinder again, and filled the housing over half full.
I then put it back on, using the 2 bolts to slowly draw it on. Instant lever pressure! But off course there will be air.
I then hold the lever, crack the bleeder, and as expected, a big air pocket in the bleeder hose I have on it. Great! But now again, no lever pressure, at all. I repeatedly pump the lever, crack the bleeder, and nothing. It will not build pressure.
I then pump the lever and clamp it to the bar. I put a syringe on the end of the bleeder hose and open the bleeder, then use the syringe to pull air and fluid.
This is working great, or so I though. As plenty of air and fluid came out, only the level in the master cylinder never dropped, at all. This is after multiple attempts too, over a dozen.
Enough fluid came out to easily have filled the line, and the cylinder was already full or close to it.
I assume it's pulling air from around the threads of the bleeder.
Every part of the master cylinder, line, and lower cylinder is bone dry. The seal on the piston does not leak.
Every part appears as brand new, even the threads on the bleeder and cylinder.
The strange part is that the clutch worked fine, aside from slipping. The lever had plenty of pressure and would spring back instantly. There were no engagement issues. You could pull the lever and easily engage first gear, there were also no shifting problems at all. None. Not even when limping home.
I have bled many clutches and countless brakes over the years, and I understand that some can be a pain, but I have never seen this before.
The master cylinder was working fine, and as said, when you fill the pushrod cylinder the first time there is plenty of lever pressure...until you bleed it once.
Without ANY leaks, or traces of brake fluid I cannot understand why it will not work, as it's a simple system.
The fluid in the master cylinder not going down has me wondering, but for it to suddenly go bad while it's apart seems unlikely to me(although it's possible).
I have yet to remove the clutch to inspect it, but at this point that's irrelavent. If the clutch is new or fried , it doesn't matter if it can't be engaged.
It's been a busy past week or so for me and my mind has been elsewhere. So I'm taking a step back and trying to find the simple problem staring me in the face.
Someone's about to buy a B-King really cheap, seriously.
I'm out of ideas at the moment.